Unit 8 Notes: Ecosystems & Ecosystem Parts

(2) What Is An Ecosystem? Collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place. Includes the living and nonliving components within the environment.

(2) Ecosystem Organization Organism: Individual living thing. Population: Group of organisms of one type, that live in the same area. Community: Group of different populations that live together in a defined area. Ecosystem: A community and its nonliving components. Biosphere: The living portions of Earth (or the parts with ecosystems).

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(3) Abiotic & Biotic Parts Abiotic Parts: Nonliving parts of an ecosystem. These things were never living. Examples: Rocks, minerals, nutrients, chemicals, water, sunlight. Biotic Parts: Living parts of an ecosystem. Either currently alive, or once living. Examples: Plants, animals, bacteria.

(4) Producers / Autotrophs A Producer or Autotroph is… An organism that converts energy from the sun or chemical compounds, into useable energy for all other organisms. An organism that “makes” (or produces) its own food / energy source. 2 Types: Photosynthetic Organisms  Living things that convert sunlight into useable energy compounds for cells. (*Plants, Bacteria, Algae) Chemosynthetic Organisms  Living things that convert chemicals into useable energy compounds for cells. (*Bacteria and Algae)

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(5) Consumers / Heterotrophs A Consumer or Heterotroph is… An organism which cannot produce its own food / energy source. An organism which eats other living things to get their useable energy. Types: Herbivore Carnivroe Omnivore Detritivore Decomposer

(6) Herbivores, Carnivores & Omnivores Herbivore  A heterotroph which gets its energy by eating only autotrophs. Examples: Cows, caterpillars, deer. Carnivore  A heterotroph which gets its energy by eating primarily other animals. Examples: Wolves, snakes, owls, dogs. Omnivore  A heterotroph which gets its energy by eating a balanced diet of autotrophs and other animals. Examples: Humans, bears, cows, apes.

(7) Decomposers & Detritivores Detritivore  A heterotroph which gets its energy from the dead cellular remains of plants and animals. Examples: Mites, earthworms, snails, and crabs. Decomposers  A heterotroph which breaks down the organic compounds once in a living organism. Examples: Bacteria and Fungi.

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(8) Cycling Through An Ecosystem Matter and Energy continually cycles throughout all levels of an ecosystem. As it cycles it changes form. This constant cycling is what allows all components of an ecosystem to remain living and healthy.

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